OBJECTIVETo investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding blood-borne occupational exposure among reproductive health staff in Tianjin, China.

METHODSBy random, stratified, and clustered sampling, 507 reproductive health-related medical workers in Tianjin were selected. A Self-Administered KAP Questionnaire on blood-borne occupational exposure was employed to gauge the general characteristics, awareness of knowledge, attitudes to occupational exposure, implementation of pre-exposure protection, incidence of occupational exposure, and demands for continuing education.

RESULTSAmong all respondents, 63.15% (305/483) were aware of the reporting procedures and related departments after the incidence of occupational exposure. The awareness rate of classification of HIV occupational exposure was 48.45% (234/483). About preventive medication time after HIV and hepatitis B virus exposure, the awareness rates were 37.89% (183/483) and 31.47% (152/483), respectively. The average score of occupational exposure knowledge among respondents was 74.45±14.00. The multivariate analysis indicated that medical staff of obstetrics and gynecology, females, doctors and high-level medical institutions showed significantly higher awareness than urology professionals, males, nurses, and medical staff of primary health care institutions, respectively (t = 12.140, t = 5.428, t = 2.582, F = 4.218, P<0.05). Of the respondents, 93.17% (450/483) and 94.41% (456/483) thought that washing hands properly and wearing protective glasses were effective methods for the prevention of occupational exposure, but only 15.94% (89/483) and 3.93% (19/483) adhered to proper hand washing and wearing protective glasses within nearly one year in practical work. Of the respondents, 60.46% (292/483) had experienced the occupational exposure during their vocation, and 95.65% (462/483) needed respective trainings.

CONCLUSIONThe awareness of occupational exposure among reproductive health-related medical staff is lacking, especially in preventative medication and reporting procedures after the incidence of occupational exposure. The implementation of protective measures is inadequate and incidence of occupational exposure is higher. Therefore, continuing education is necessary to improve the knowledge and attitudes towards occupational exposure in medical staff. At the same time, strict and effective supervision and management system should be established.